Pacific island countries and areas face a triple disease burden: a rapidly rising epidemic of noncommunicable diseases; outbreak-prone diseases which remain prevalent, as well as emerging infectious diseases which threaten national and regional health security; and the health impacts of climate change. These challenges not only impact human health, but they also threaten the overall sustainable development of Pacific island communities.

Covering a third of the earth’s surface, but home to less than 1% of the world’s population, the Pacific faces a unique set of obstacles that require innovative, practical approaches to ensure health services are available and accessible to everyone, everywhere.

In 2010, the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) was established in Suva, Fiji to coordinate and provide timely, tailored support and backstopping to 21 Pacific island countries and areas: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

Based in Fiji, DPS also operates as the WHO Representative Office for the South Pacific, providing direct support to 12 countries and areas (Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna) and overseeing Country Liaison Offices in Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu.

There are 6 other offices in the Pacific:

• WHO Representative Office for Northern Micronesia (covering Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau)
• WHO Representative Office for Samoa (covering American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau)
• WHO Representative Office for Solomon Islands
• Country Liaison Office for Kiribati
• Country Liaison Office for Tonga
• Country Liaison Office for Vanuatu.

DPS’ work spans 4 main areas to support implementation of the Pacific Islands Multi-country Cooperation Strategy (MCCS), in close collaboration with Pacific governments, UN agencies, development partners, donors, and nongovernmental organisations towards a healthier and more equitable Pacific.